Washing and waxing are nice, but caring for your vehicle's inner workings is critical if you want to keep your car in good running order. To save time and money, you'll find there are several small mechanical chores you can do yourself, or get done at a dealer or garage for a reasonable price.
Today's vehicles have become more sophisticated. Advances in technology have made driving easier and safer, and there have been tremendous improvements in handling and comfort. So are we on cloud nine? Of course not.
Repairs to high-tech gadgets can bite into your budget like a bulldog. And while tune-up intervals are lengthy--hovering around 100,000 miles for many cars and trucks--just taking your car in for a checkup calls for a pricey electronic diagnosis just to find out what the trouble could be.
But practicing budget-wise preventive maintenance can help. Not only will your vehicle last longer, but it'll also depreciate less when it's time to trade it in or roll over your auto lease.
Keeping maintenance costs down starts when you begin shopping for a car. Check which vehicles have the lowest maintenance costs before you buy. For example, the Chevrolet Express 1500 AWD cargo van and the GMC Savana RWD head the list for lowest-cost maintenance, according to
Intellichoice analysts. The Nissan Armada and Pathfinder SUVs, and the Buick Rendezvous crossover are also cost-effective vehicles to maintain.
One tip that costs nothing: Read your owner's manual all the way through. It'll teach you a lot about how to keep your car running smoothly by checking the brake fluid level, showing you where the oil dipstick is and giving you the recommended tire pressure.
Beyond that, there are several simple, inexpensive steps for forestalling high repair bills down the road:
- Change your oil frequently. Your owner's manual lists scheduled oil changes to keep the engine in good shape. Service centers, such as Jiffy Lube, are in fierce competition for your oil-change dollars, so shop around not only for the best price, but also for the most highly recommended garage. Look for deals. You can find discount coupons in weekend newspapers or in the mail, and dealerships often offer specials.
- Check drive belts and hoses. It's not always easy to spot worn areas on radiator hoses and drive belts because most are higher quality and more reliable than they were 10 years ago, but a trained mechanic can tell if trouble is looming. It's best to get a periodic checkup during an oil change than wait too long for advice.
- Check your tire pressure. If your vehicle has a tire-pressure monitor on the dash, it'll indicate when you need to add air. If you don't have this feature, buy a tire-pressure gauge and check the owner's manual for recommendations.
- Check engine fluids. It's pretty simple to locate and open the reservoirs that hold the brake, clutch (if installed), power steering, coolant and windshield washer fluids. Some cars have different colored caps that indicate their contents. You can buy the fluids at auto parts stores or have your mechanic add them if necessary.
- Change your air filter. Your manual has a sketch of where the circular filter is located and what it looks like, and it'll suggest an interval--normally about once a year--for replacing it. It's one of the easiest do-it-yourself chores. You simply undo the butterfly screw on the lid, remove the air filter and install a new one. It takes less than five minutes, is low-cost and can improve your fuel economy. If your business takes your vehicles into dusty or sandy areas, you may need to replace the air filter more frequently than the manual advises.
Finally, be on the alert for recalls. Not all dealerships notify customers if the manufacturer has issued a warning to bring your vehicle in for a free fix, so periodically check the manufacturer's website for its listed recalls.
If all else fails, and to learn more, check out Vyvyan Lynn's book,
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Auto Repair.
Jill Amadio is an award-winning automotive journalist and author covering new vehicles, aftermarket products and trends. She writes the "Wheels" column for Entrepreneur
magazine.
